BAHAMIAN FLATS FISHING GUIDE WORKSHOP
16 Oct 2009 - Nassau, Bahamas
The first iteration of a Certification Program for Bahamian flats fishing guides was developed over a decade ago, and a number of individuals participated in that program and were certified as professional guides. Over recent years, however, momentum for that program has waned and there became an increasing realization that efforts were needed to modernize the program to make it more relevant to today’s flats fishing community. Early on in the process of updating this program, it was recognized that it would be important to obtain input from the professional guide community into what components were needed to ensure that a high quality program was developed.
To accomplish that task, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s Department of Sustainable Tourism, under the direction of Earlston McPhee and Benjamin Pratt, and with assistance from The Bahamian Flats Fishing Alliance, organized a workshop designed to bring interested stakeholders (e.g., guides, lodge owners, conservation organizations, etc.) together for discussion and input. Announcements for the meeting were distributed throughout The Bahamas via the network of Tourism offices throughout Nassau and the Family Islands. This workshop was held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. The meeting was facilitated by a team of scientists from The Bahamian Flats Fishing Alliance, which is a joint effort of the Bahamas National Trust, the Bonefish Tarpon Trust, and the Fisheries Conservation Foundation.
During their keynote addresses to over 70 attendees, the Honorable Lawrence Cartwright (Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources) and the Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace (Minister of Tourism and Aviation) acknowledged how an internationally recognized Guide Certification Program would help maintain high standards for customer service and conservation. Breakout sessions facilitated by members of the BFFA worked with the guides to identify angling, conservation, business, and cultural skills that are important to include in the curriculum of the certification program. All attendees then regrouped to collectively discuss the framework of the certification program, including how it would be administered, especially given the wide distribution of guides throughout the family islands of The Bahamas. Presentations on the latest research on bonefish spawning and best practices for catch-and-release angling were also made and discussed.
The BFFA Facilitation Team has issued the Bahamas Flat Fishing Guide Certification Report, which is a written account summarizing both the workshop and the recommendations that came from it. This report was delivered to The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism as a way to help direct the next stage of development for the Guide Certification Program. Once in operation, the Guide Certification Program in The Bahamas will be the first of its kind in the world, setting very high standards for the global bonefishing community.
To download a copy of the Bahamas Flat Fishing Guide Certification Report, click here.